Bernie's campaign changing strategy.

[madfloridian]

Bernie Sanders' strategy shift

Los Angeles (CNN)Bernie Sanders' insurgent campaign has been largely built and defined by big, booming rallies with enthusiastic crowds mostly in liberal and progressive locales.

Now, his campaign strategists say they will start to put a new emphasis on placing the candidate in smaller, more intimate settings, especially in early states like Iowa.

The article says that in Iowa this week-end he will attend a barbecue, some town hall meetings, and some house parties.

Forcing a debate"

At the first of two Beverly Hills fundraising events Wednesday evening, Sanders emphasized the difficulty of cutting through and getting his message across.

"If I slipped on a banana peel leaving here it would be on the front page of the papers," Sanders said. "But when we talk about the great crisis facing this country very hard to get media attention for a lot of obvious reasons. And if I was standing here tonight and making some vicious attack against Hillary Clinton or anybody else it'd be a front page story.

He wants to keep running a people-oriented campaign.

"Right now there are many pundits who believe that the only way a candidate can run a successful campaign is to have a super PAC, get down on one's knees before the millionaires and billionaires - beg them for money," he said. "And what we are showing is we can run a people oriented campaign funded by the people"

[liberal_at_heart]

1. The super PAC candidates are missing out on something wonderful. Being part of a

people funded campaign has a lot of us very engaged and excited. We feel like we are part of it, and that feels wonderful.

[JaneyVee]

2. Beverly Hills fundraisers, Hollywood fundraisers, a $110k Tesla,

Hmm...

[JRLeft]

3. I know you worship Hillary, I don't know why. I suppose you could give a fuck about her Wall Street.

[JaneyVee]

4. I don't worship her at all. I just think she will make a great prez.

What about her Wall Street?

[JRLeft]

6. Stick your fingers in your ears and pretend like you never heard anything.

[PatrynXX]

31. Trump would Trump her though

smh everyone except the Right knows his a Centrist just like everyone knows she's to his right on most issues. Gets Awkward when she's to the Right of Rand Paul on Foreign Policy O_O

[coolepairc]

40. Question

I just came across this article about the Clintons being income-wise in the top 1% of the 1% (see link below). Could any Hillary supporter here explain how they feel about this. I find it troubling that politicians today enrich themselves in government in this manner, particularly Democratic politicians that are supposed to represent the interests of the middle class, poor and most vulnerable in society. Thoughts? Link: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/27/clintons-income-may-reach-top-1-of-the-1/

[Aldo Leopold]

69. And...crickets.

It was a good question, though.

[MoonRiver]

70. The Clintons pulled themselves up by their bootstraps from difficult circumstances,

especially Bill. Hillary's family was middle class but far from rich. Why do you insult people who are/were hardworking and ambitious? My husband and I came from similar circumstances to the Clintons, and although we do not have that kind of wealth, we are well off. We both took out student loans, paid them back, busted out butts to build careers and raised a family we can be proud of. But I guess since we, and the Clintons, are not poor, something is wrong with all of us. Meh

[cprise]

38. He could also give a rats *ss about her NEOCON PROBLEM:

(lest we think her hawkish-ness is based on some unique Hillary insight...)

“I feel comfortable with her on foreign policy,” Mr. Kagan said, adding that the next step after Mr. Obama’s more realist approach “could theoretically be whatever Hillary brings to the table” if elected president. “If she pursues a policy which we think she will pursue,” he added, “it’s something that might have been called neocon, but clearly her supporters are not going to call it that; they are going to call it something else.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/us/politics/historians-critique-of-obama-foreign-policy-is-brought-alive-by-events-in-iraq.html

Ahhh, the return of Democrat faith in "bi-partisanship". Maybe NYT will re-hire Judith Miller, too.

BTW, these people haven't recanted! I and many other real progressives will consider your advocacy and Hillary's candidacy a fraud just for sweeping this one issue under the rug. None of you have any remaining connection to the anti-war movement, if there ever were connections.

And that doesn't even get into her defense and shepherding of free-trade agreements since NAFTA in the 90s.

[SidDithers]

23. ...

Sid

[George II]

46. We don't know that. He only has to document and report contributions of $200 or more....

...and his average contribution is about $31.

There's no telling how many people have contributed $31 many times, bringing them up over the $2700 cap.

[tech3149]

60. Well this old fart hasn't contributed jack so far

My bank account is down to the "i HAVE TO PAY FEES TO GET MY MONEY" If I got everything right I might get my first SS payment towards the end of next month.
There is one thing you can bet your ass on is that I will put everything I can to get a real candidate for the people elected. Considering I live pretty frugally I could do pretty well in the primaries and could max out in the general.
My problem is I can't be the boots on the ground that would put the blue collar community I grew up in back to looking at the world as it is and not being sold on the propaganda that has been digested as truth for so long.

[madfloridian]

65. "propaganda that has been digested as truth for so long"

[aidbo]

75. I've done all my donating to Bernie through ActBlue, mostly through Omaha Steve's DU link.

Which requires you to give your name and other information.

Also, this from the FEC's website:

Contributor Information
If you contribute more than $200 to a committee, the committee is required to use its best efforts to collect and publicly disclose on a financial report your name, address, occupation and employer, as well as the date and amount of your contribution. Committees sometimes request this information even for smaller contributions, since the $200 reporting threshold applies to your total contributions to one committee during a calendar year. For example, you may make several small contributions to a committee during a year. Once these contributions add up to over $200, the committee must report the contributor information.
Note that if you collect and forward contributions to a committee, you must transmit them within a specified period of time and must also provide the committee with certain information on the contributors. Additionally, you may have reporting obligations. For more details, contact the FEC.

[George II]

76. Yes, that's true once the aggregate contribution reaches $200. But the first sentence is telling...

....."the committee is required to use its best efforts to collect and publicly disclose on a financial report your name, address, occupation and employer....."

The committee doesn't get penalized if it is unable to get that information as long as, for the most part, they make their "best effort" to get it. So, if I gave them $100 but refused to provide that information, the committee isn't obligated to refuse the contribution. Then a few weeks later I did the same thing, they again can accept the contribution. So, now I've given them a total of $200 but neither of the $100 contributions are documented.

I've been the Treasurer of a number of campaign comittees and Political committees. I can't tell you how many times people tried to skirt the regulations and make contributions over the limits, and the ways they do it. It's not difficult to do, either.

[aidbo]

77. Well,

If that is what you think is going on, I don't think there is anything I could say to convince you otherwise.

[madfloridian]

7. You keep referring to the Tesla that doesn't belong to him. What does that accomplish?

[Fumesucker]

8. She's just trying to emphasize that Hillary hasn't driven since the previous millennium

Making sure that we know Hillary connects with the little people you understand...

[winter is coming]

14. I guess we're supposed to think that Bernie's living like the rich and famous.

Which is a hoot, considering that Bernie flies coach while Hillary uses a private jet.

[George II]

62. He's travelling the country and staying in posh hotels without spending a penny of his own....

....and just before the debate in an interview he crowed "I had a great steak dinner last night"!

I would guess a bunch of his supporters who contributed to his campaign haven't had a steak dinner in a restaurant in a long time, if ever.

[99th_Monkey]

71. Are you serious? ... or did you forget to add the sarcasm smilie?

Oh noes!! Bernie ate a steak dinner?

[aidbo]

15. #BernieSoRich

[99th_Monkey]

72. I heard Bernie actually ate a steak dinner once.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=692476

[aidbo]

73. Shame on him!!! He should be slurping gruel from a rusty bowl!

Seriously though, it's kind of sad that they went there.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Problem with this approach is that Hillary does big A-List fundraisers in those nasty places I've

seen her at them, and of course she travels by limo and private jet while the Tesla is on loan to the campaign. It's just very Republican to leer at 'Hollywood' and very hypocritical to do so on behalf of a candidate who certainly does not leer at an industry where she has old friends and strong ties.

[Eric J in MN]

22. Who is doing more fundraisers with expensive tickets, Sanders or Clinton? NT

NT

[jeff47]

29. You mean the Tesla that belongs to a supporter?

Oh the horrors, having a supporter who can afford a Tesla!!!

To the fainting couch!!!!!

[George II]

48. Isn't it interesting that all summer Clinton was getting criticized for holding small face-to-face..

....gatherings to find out how the voters feel and for holding fundraisers in posh places like Beverly Hills.

Now Sanders is doing both of those things and that's okay!

Funny how that works out.

[BeanMusical]

50. Lol!

[Qutzupalotl]

66. Sanders has a choice in the matter.

[George II]

67. No one said he didn't - it's a shame his followers can't be consistent in their accolades/criticism

[BeanMusical]

49. ...

[Eleanors38]

68. Most excellent video. It matches the coffee house music I'm listening to now.

[sabrina 1]

51. Yes that's where Hillary's money comes from. I know I worked for the funraisers in the Hamptons who

were hosting dinners for thousands of dollars from Billionaires. Saw it up close and personal. No 'little people' at any of those functions, other than the staff of course..

Who is flooding her Super Pacs with Dark Money? Do YOU know? I notice they never include those obscene amounts of money in her official numbers.

Bernie of course doesn't take Citizens United money.

Has she refused the Private Prison Industry's money yet?

She's the Corporate Candidate, Bernie is the People's Candidate.

And the Corporations will pull every dirty trick to STOP the people from choosing their own candidate.
i
It feels so great to be on the RIGHT side of history. FIGHTING the corrupt Corporations who now rule this country.

[BeanMusical]

53. +1

[DisgustipatedinCA]

64. Yep. Bernie's well known for his bling. I hear he dropped $15K with KimK.

Or was that some other candidate? Hard to recall. Anyway, I just wanted to join you in righteous indignation about Bernie's Coke and hookers and drug-fueled Ibiza junkets and all. You've really zeroed in on his true character. It takes a special amount of intelligence to formulate an out-of-the-box opinion like that.

[NervousGuy]

74. It was Hillary with 15k at a Jay-Z's nightclub in NYC

http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2015/10/hillary-clinton-dropped-15k-at-jay-zs-4040-club/

[dreamnightwind]

9. Interesting

The event at the home of long-time Democratic donors Syd and Linda Leibovitch has a higher price point: tickets start at $250 per person and go up the maximum $2,700 for a pre-event reception and has already raised more than $110,000 with about 250 people expected.

That's a little disturbing. Hopefully he won't go very far down that road.

His campaign has, for quite some time, been open about their strategy of having an early stage where large rallies would put them on the map and generate enthusiasm which would be the vehice to generate a huge volunteer army. Mission accomplished. I'm glad they will still so some of the large rallies, but they are getting to the next phase.

I'm not entirely clear on what this next phase is. I read the CNN article, not a lot of substance there, surprise surprise. He has been doing tons of media appearances all along, so that CNN talking point in the article was just wrong.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with, I would really love to see him oull off a victory, it would be the best thing that could happen to this country.

[winter is coming]

13. That was the second fundraiser...

The first was at The Avalon, described by the campaign as a "mini-rally" with 1,300 people expected. Ticket prices were kept low, the campaign says -- at $25-- to encourage a more open event and has already raised $50,000.

[dreamnightwind]

18. Yes, I was aware of that

and didn't mean to imply that was all he did. But the big-ticket fundraiser raised some concern for me, as it probably should. Bernie's way better than the opposition so there's plenty of room for us to be honest about any problems we have along the way, let's keep this campaign on the right track. I'm confident Bernie will do just that, just noting something that didn't look good to me so as to not let it slide.

[winter is coming]

19. This isn't something that worries me.

Bernie's idea of "big ticket" is the max personal donation of $2700. If he starts doing events where people are bundling PAC donations, or he stops doing $25 fundraisers, then I'll be concerned.

[dreamnightwind]

30. I mostly agree. - eom

[Historic NY]

35. Here....

https://secure.berniesanders.com/page/contribute/los-angeles-fundraising-reception

[dreamnightwind]

41. Thanks

America (the band) was playing it! My son and I have seen them a couple of times, fun.

I don't have a problem with this, or don't know enough about what's going on right now in his campaign to have an informed opinion.

I was a little concerned, the CNN article made it look like he's going a little closer to the Clinton campaign path in this next phase. So long as that's not the case, all good, and I wish I had been at that event, though I wouldn't have been able to afford it and I'm up here in northern Califoria.

[George II]

52. Here are the details...

Note there was no mention of the most important aspect of being a President - FOREIGN POLICY!

Los Angeles Fundraiser with Bernie Sanders

On Wednesday, October 14, join Bernie Sanders for a fundraising reception at the home of Linda and Syd Leibovitch in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Bernie looks forward to talking with you about his campaign for the presidency and his agenda for America. Rock group America will be playing a special performance at the event.

Online tickets for this event are sold out.

Support Levels for this Event:
Attendee: $250 per person
Guest: $500 per person
Supporter: $1000 per person
Maximum donor: $2700 per person*
Co-host: Raise $10,000 per person *
*level includes invitation to pre-event reception

A message from the host:

Please join me in supporting Bernie. I believe that every American has a responsibility to participate in our democracy and that’s why I’m supporting Bernie Sanders. He has consistently stood up against big money in politics and has been unwavering in his commitment to working people. Healthcare, education, clean water and air — these are but a few of our inalienable rights as Americans and rights that Bernie has consistently fought for. Join me as we ignite the revolution that catapults us to greatness.

[BeanMusical]

59. HRC's favorite song:

[Live and Learn]

43. i was invited to the event and the the donation asked was $500.

I don't enjoy those types of events so chose not to go (plus, I enjoy donating in other ways such as through DU).

I do know some volunteers that were interested in going but couldn't afford it. The Bernie campaign got them all in free as volunteers for the event.

[dreamnightwind]

54. Right on

That's great that they let bring them in as volunteers, win-win.

We have a lot of good local Bernie events here (Sonoma county). I've got my cars stickered up, a Bernie shirt I wear to large events, and I sometimes carry around small Bernie stickers that I print up and give away to people that like the shirt. Also was going to table a farmer's market, I think they didn't receive permission to do so so it didn't happen, hopefully soon.

Keep on bernin'.

[Live and Learn]

57. You can always flyer at events like that but setting up a table will require permission.

Hope you find one to attend soon. I think you will really enjoy it. In the meantime, just displaying your stickers and wearing your shirt will probably lead to some interesting conversations.

Feeling the Bern!

[dreamnightwind]

58. Good point

Flyering can happen anywhere.

I saw some guy at a large concert who was wearing one of those old-fashioned "sandwich board" rigs, two huge boards covering his whole body front and back, all plastered with Bernie info, very effective.

[ruffburr]

10. Bernie keeps Showing His-

CLASS!!!

[Fred Sanders]

17. Indeed he does...his fans should take the hint.

[madfloridian]

24. You know what, Fred? Attacking us makes us angry but stronger.

I was treated as fringe in 2004, and I can do it all over again. Only this time, I might not fall in line.

[cprise]

39. I was here in 2004 (and 2000) also, and know what you mean.

Even though I don't have your gift for writing great pieces. You are virtually tireless!!!

Big props!!!

[KoKo]

42. ...!

[artislife]

26. from your posts

You don't know what you are quibbling about.

[Fred Sanders]

27. Attacking, quibbling, quarrelling....we are family!? Take a look at the non-family camp for contrast

[madfloridian]

28. No, not really, we're not.

Not right now.

[cprise]

44. War will pit family members against each other.

Sorry to remind you of that fact.

Your candidate employs and harbors war-monger chickenhawks.

[Fred Sanders]

45. Sad.

[BeanMusical]

55. I agree. It's sad that she employs and harbors war-monger chickenhawks.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, madfloridian.

[questionseverything]

12. i think he needs to do both

nothing wrong with big rallies as long as the local volunteers are doing voter registration

caucus states are the most important

[daleanime]

16. +1

[Hortensis]

20. Regarding Bernie's crowds, I heard a funny story on TV yesterday

about the first one and the phenomenon it announced. It seems that when Bernie and his crew were arriving at the event, they ran into traffic, a bunch of cars all over the place, and Bernie's first guess was that there had been an accident. They were there for HIM, of course, and from there on...it's history.

[FloriTexan]

25. Kick

[Duval]

32. He sure knows how our MSM works

Yeah, it works for the billionaires and Big Pharma and Big Oil, etc. Bernie has proven to be a Man of The People and we're giving more to his campaign!

[RandySF]

33. Smaller settings

Has been Hillary's strategy all along.

[Segami]

34. Kick.

[Historic NY]

36. Man if this was the Hamptons.....

people would be saying stuff.......wouldn't they.

[DCBob]

37. Sorry Bernie.. you are not in Vermont anymore.

Welcome to the big leagues! The media's main motivation is capturing ears, eyeballs and clicks. A candidate has to do or say something that gets attention without looking like a fool and at the same time getting their real message across. Its certainly not easy thing to do. Hillary seems to be very good at it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

47. Obama did both the monster rallies and the smaller events.

[moobu2]

56. So now Bernie is co-opting Hillary's strategy

but it's Okay I guess.

[BeanMusical]

61. Kick and R

[mucifer]

63. I wish he was a bit younger. This is gonna get hard

especially on the few days the senate is in session.